Little Lessons Learned

I learned a few lessons this Burning Man that I want to share with myself so I can remember them next summer and not repeat the same goof-ups I did this year!

1.  Hydrate.  Like, actually.  This means you.  Not kidding.

2.  Don't leave your camp without water.  Seriously.  Even if you think it's just going to be for a little while, or even if it's evening and you feel like you "drank enough all day" to not need it, take your water bottle with you.  I'm serious.  Just do it.

3.  Sorry boys, you may want to skip this one... or not, what do I know, but don't wax before you go on a cruise that's two weeks before you leave for the desert.  I mean, go for it if you do it regularly, but his one's for me.  Because you seem to have forgotten that your skin doesn't like it and you'll end up looking like you have some horrible disease, which you actually don't and, well, just leave well enough alone.  Or deal with these things long before you have to wear a swimsuit... not, the day before.  You dumbass.

4.  Don't try to exfoliate all the calluses off your feet.  I, legitimately don't know what you were thinking.  You wanted super soft feet before you went to the desert why?  Not like you were going barefoot.  And so because you went all self-pedicure on yourself you actually managed to make things worse and weird and, just... stop.  Or get a professional to do it. 

5.  Cranberry.  Pills, juice, both, all of the above, pro-actively. 

6.  Oh, hi.  You know how you've never gotten a sunburn at Burning Man?  And so this year you just kind of didn't bother putting on sunscreen near the end of the week because the dust was probably working as a sunscreen anyway?  Yeah.  That's why you had a big, ouchy sunburn at the end of the week.  The reason that you have never before gotten a sunburn at Burning Man is that you have always always put sunscreen on every morning without fail.  And THEN the dust sticks to it and makes an extra sunblock but yeah, no... you have to put on sunscreen.  Every day.  Even if it's "cold" out and that makes you think there's... what... no UV radiation or something?  Sunscreen.  Every day.  At least once.  For sure, ok?

7.  Laces are really annoying.  So slip ons, or just make your laced runners into slip ons.  Oh, and as cute as fluffy slippers are?  Too hot.  And sweaty.  Because of the too hot.  Which means they end up making dust soup and so no. 

8.  Don't forget your warm clothes.  Even if it was hot the last two years.  Even if the next two years are hot again.  Warm.  Clothes.  Make room for them.  Because you'll miss those fluffy pjs when you need them and they're safe at home.

9.  Not a straw hat.  That's two years in a row you've taken one and the dust has eaten it into pieces that then turn into MOOP.  Stahp.  I know you don't really like hats and they never fit your head anyway, but get a decent, not straw one to keep the sun off (see #6) and make sure it either goes over your bun (because ...hair) or bun is high enough to fit in hat.  So try hat on with bun. 

10.  You will get sick and have physical not nice stuff to deal with when you get home.  It's happened every time.  So be proactive about it.   Your feet will get a little weird, try to avoid going straight to boots and socks even though the weather when you get home is brrrr and stuff.  Try your sandals, give the skin on your feet a little time to adjust.  You'll probably need to deal with the cranberry capsule stuff... keep fluids up and yeah, sorry about that.  Moisturize your hair.  And remember your hairdresser said it wasn't really "that bad" when she saw it so yay!  Good job.  You're going to have a cold, or at least feel like it.  Vitamin C, rest, and cold meds if you need them.  I think it's your lungs adjusting to being back on the coast and the change in PH.  So your body will have to deal with these things the week or two you're back so be ready and prepared to make it hopefully a little easier. 

11.  It's going to be ok.  You can't control much until you're there, and even then... you can only do so much so relax, it'll all work out and be ok.  And probably better than ok.

12.  You made a list on the way home of things you wanted this burn, look at it, get those things.  You wrote them down for a reason.